COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In the aftermath of last week’s polar vortex, representatives of animal welfare groups in the county expressed their disappointment to the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session Tuesday that when county government is forced to shut down, the animal control officer is not on duty because that person is considered non-essential personnel.
Jan Nageldinger from the Branch County Humane Society is hoping for a change in the future. She said they were asking to work together and come up with a plan for new very spsefic county ordinances to help protect animals in the county.
Erin Gilbert from Erin’s Angels was frustrated and discouraged an animal control officer was not available as volunteers worked to protect animals from temperatures that dipped as low as 18 degrees below zero and wind chills as low as 40 below.
Branch County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Miner praised the work of the animal welfare groups. Miner does not handle and has no say in animal control policies in the county.
As far as whether or not to close county offices during extreme weather, he said a closure policy change should not be made based on what he called a 20 year event.
Miner also reported to commissioners that there were no reports of any human deaths locally during last week’s record breaking cold weather.
